NewsletterCaptain Nemo and friends

Michèle Brunner

WorldTempus is celebrating the start of summer with the launch of a daily contest, which runs until 21 September. Among the prizes up for grabs this week are a Seiko bag, cufflinks by TF Est. 1968 and the beautifully produced 150 Years of TAG Heuer book. The office is gradually succumbing to the holiday mood, with our editor-in-chief the first to head off for a break. Next week, it will be Isabelle Guignet's turn to bring you the newsletter.

A few days ago, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) published the latest watch export figures, which put something of a dampener on the summer spirit. Unsurprisingly, the downward trend continued in May, with total export values falling 9.7% compared with 2015. China, for instance, declined 16.4% compared with May 2015, and 9.4% over 2014. Emile Chouriet has had close ties with the Middle Kingdom for many years, and China is its primary market by some margin. We met company founder and CEO Jean Depéry, who is refusing to give in to pessimism. You can read the interview on Friday.

Today, we have another interview and another brand. A few days ago in Geneva, Camille Gendre met Davide Cerrato, director of Montblanc’s watch division, and was able to take a look at the new TimeWalker Pythagore Ultralight concept watch, presented for the first time outside China. Camille also followed sailing team Alinghi and HYT to Cardiff, and you can read her report this Wednesday. Another nautical reference, but this time no connection with diving watches: Patek Philippe’s Nautilus is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and WorldTempus’s own Captain Nemo, David Chokron, has written a comprehensive article on the subject. Finally, Jaquet Droz recently held a media day; Isabel Guignet reports back on Thursday

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